WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) – The United States and Bahrain signed a strategic security and economic agreement on Wednesday, which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said will expand defense and intelligence cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement was signed during a meeting at the State Department between Blinken and Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.
“At the heart of the agreement is a common goal: working together to build a region that is safer, more prosperous and more connected to the global economy,” Blinken told reporters shortly before the signing ceremony. said.
“We look forward to using this agreement as a framework for additional countries wishing to join us in strengthening regional stability, economic cooperation and innovation.”
The incident comes amid turmoil in the Gulf, where the Biden administration is negotiating with Saudi Arabia over a possible U.S.-Saudi defense pact and an Israel-Saudi deal aimed at normalizing relations.
Bahrain is already home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. Thousands of U.S. military personnel are stationed in Bahrain, a major non-NATO ally.
Ahead of the announcement, senior Biden officials told reporters on Tuesday that the crown prince’s visit to Washington was the culmination of nearly a year of diplomatic activity, including multiple visits by senior U.S. officials to Manama.
In a region wary of Iranian influence, the official said the deal was “about deterrence and setting the conditions for a more stable region going forward.”
U.S. officials described the agreement as a legally binding agreement, but it does not include the Article 5 Mutual Defense Agreement, which is part of the NATO treaty.
The agreement formalizes steps taken by U.S. Central Command to integrate regional air and missile defense systems and increase “maritime domain awareness,” according to a White House fact sheet. Said to be helpful.
The official said U.S. officials planned to raise human rights issues during talks with their Bahraini counterparts.
Hundreds of political prisoners have called off their hunger strike after the Bahraini government promised to improve prison conditions, according to human rights groups.
The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said the prisoners had agreed to suspend the strike, which began on August 7, until September 30 to allow promised changes to be implemented.
A Bahraini government spokesperson denied there were any political prisoners in Saudi Arabia. “No one has been detained for expressing peaceful political views,” the spokesperson said in his emailed comments.
“However, as in all countries, when acts amount to violence or seek to incite violence or hatred, authorities have a duty to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute individuals.”
Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Steve Holland.Editing: Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates
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